Kojima Sounds Alarm on Digital Ownership Amid Playstation Disc Shift
WHO:
Kotaku - Hideo Kojima, creator of Metal Gear and director of Death Stranding, spoke at the Il Cinema in Piazza film festival in Italy.
WHAT:
Engadget - Sony will still make physical discs after 2028 for games released before that date, while anything released after will be digital-only.
Push Square - A clause in the European version of PlayStation’s Terms of Service states that Sony “may take steps” to close a PSN account if it is inactive for 36 months, with a further six months allowed for the user to log in to retain the account.
Kotaku - Sony will stop producing PlayStation game discs starting in January 2028.
Wccftech - Kojima expressed sadness over the end of physical media, stating, “I find it really sad.”
Wccftech - Kojima mentioned he has been buying Blu-rays and CDs.
Wccftech - Kojima warned that if gaming shifts to streaming, consumers may lose access to their games, stating, “you won’t be able to watch or play the movies and games you like.”
WHERE:
Kotaku - The comments were made at the Il Cinema in Piazza film festival in Italy.
WHEN:
Wccftech - Production of PlayStation discs is set to end in January 2028.
WHY:
Push Square - The clause regarding account inactivity is likely in place to adhere to broader European GDPR laws, which differ from regulations in the US.
Kotaku - Kojima highlighted concerns about digital ownership and the implications of an all-streaming future, noting that consumers do not actually possess the data when using subscription services.
HOW:
Kotaku - Kojima explained that with streaming services, users access data through a server, which means they only have the right to access it rather than owning it outright.
(UPDATED July 5, 2026 21:16 UTC)
Sony has announced that it will continue producing physical game discs for titles released before 2028, but any games launched after that date will be available only in digital format. Additionally, a clause in the European version of PlayStation’s Terms of Service indicates that Sony may close a PSN account if it remains inactive for 36 months, with an extra six months for users to log in and keep their accounts. This policy aligns with European GDPR laws, which have different requirements compared to regulations in the United States.
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(UPDATED July 5, 2026 19:21 UTC)
At the Il Cinema in Piazza film festival in Italy, Hideo Kojima, the renowned creator of Metal Gear and director of Death Stranding, expressed his sadness over the impending end of physical media, particularly with Sony set to stop producing PlayStation game discs in January 2028. He emphasized the risks of a future dominated by streaming, warning that consumers may lose access to their favorite games and movies, as they do not truly own the data when using subscription services. Kojima also shared his personal commitment to collecting physical media, mentioning that he has been buying Blu-rays and CDs.